Interim admissions director a true Husky

A true UConn Husky, new Interim Director of Admissions Brian Usher has a long history with the university.

Usher started out as a student athlete, playing football for UConn in the early 1970s. After graduation, he headed back to his hometown, Stamford, to work as a high school teacher and head football coach. He then returned to UConn as the defensive coordinator for the football team from 1981 to 1990 before settling into the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where he has been ever since.

Due to his great experiences as a student athlete at UConn, Usher was happy to return.

"I appreciated and respected the academic opportunities and the quality of student life here, so it was an easy decision to come back," Usher said. He is still an avid UConn sports fan, explaining, "I go to as many games and athletic events that I can, but having played and coached football here, from an athletic standpoint, it's my first love."

His history in football, general enthusiasm for his work and obvious love for this university influence his work style as well.

"It's great to have a former football coach as a boss because he sometimes wants to rally the troops or give a pep talk and it's just a unique way to go about it," said Cameron MacKay, admissions officer in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

The previous director of admissions was promoted to Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management and Planning and Institutional Research, opening up the position of Director of Admissions. Usher was promoted to Interim Director of Admissions, meaning that the office will assess his performance at the end of the year and determine if he is to remain in this position.

"He has worked in admissions for numerous years and has done a great job in the associate director role, and would bring the admissions office to the next level in bringing in the best and brightest students," said Darla Quick, administrative coordinator. "I think we are very lucky to have him."

Usher spoke about his new role with a sense of excitement saying, "I think my role here is to maintain the success we have had in enrolling great students and diverse students."

He plans to continue to ensure that they are providing great customer service to all prospective students, to reach out to a variety of students across the nation and internationally, and to implement strategies in order to maintain their enrollment success.

When asked about the high enrollment in the fall of 2008, Usher asserted that while a larger class entered UConn, a large class also graduated earlier that spring, maintaining a balance. He added that they made a strategic decision this fall to enroll a class closer to 3,200, but that it's not always about the numbers. They try to bring in students that will build a good community.

"We are building and contributing to the UConn community. We have scholars, athletes, leaders, musicians; we want to build a community of students that contribute in many different ways," Usher said.

With a spike in applications over the past several years, UConn is becoming increasingly harder to get into. Each year the Office of Admissions sees an increase in the number of applicants as well as the quality of the applications.

With the utmost regard for the students, Usher gives them the credit for making this university a great place.

While Usher has seen the university change and develop over the years he said the one thing that has remained constant is the students.

"They have always been great," Usher said.